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Know the warning signs of suicidal thoughts

MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 -- Family, friends
and acquaintances can play a key role in suicide prevention by being
alert for signs and taking action to help someone who may be struggling,
a mental health expert says.

Nearly 43,000 Americans commit
suicide each year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention. For the past two decades, suicide rates have been rising in
the United States, the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention says.

The sharpest rises in suicide rates have occurred among men aged 45 to 64 and girls aged 10 to 14, according to the CDC.

"There remains a lot of stigma associated with
people who seek help for mental health, which prevents them from
getting the assistance they need. We need to pay more attention to
suicide prevention," said William Zimmermann. He's a clinician
supervisor of New Jersey Hopeline, a suicide prevention hotline operated
by Rutgers University's Behavioral Health Care.

Many people mistakenly believe that suicides
happen without warning. But most people who attempt suicide try to
communicate their distress or suicide plans to someone, Zimmermann said
in a Rutgers news release.

The problem is the suicide plans or thoughts
may not be clearly stated, so asking direct questions about suicide can
start the conversation and help-seeking process, he said.

Asking someone about suicide won't put the idea in their head, Zimmermann said.

Warning signs of suicide attempts include
increased substance abuse, anxiety, agitation, difficulty sleeping,
dramatic mood changes, a feeling of hopelessness and being trapped,
having no sense of purpose, social withdrawal, uncontrolled anger and
reckless behavior.

If a person talks about wanting to hurt or
kill themselves, threatens to hurt or kill themselves, or talks about
looking for a method to kill themselves, get them immediate help or
guidance by contacting a mental health professional or a suicide
prevention hotline, Zimmermann said.

If you're concerned about someone, ask them
directly if they are thinking about suicide, Zimmermann said. He
suggested saying things like: "I care about you. Some of the things
you've said or done have made me wonder. Are you thinking about killing
yourself?"

If they say they are considering suicide,
don't judge, don't deny and don't promise to keep it a secret,
Zimmermann said. Get support for the person talking about suicide and
for yourself, he said.